The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-13
Things Which Make the President
PODular

| The two vhings in President Cleveland's
administration which outside of his con-
scientious enforcement of the laws and his re-
| spect for his pledges, tend to make him pop
| ular with the people, are his veto of the de
pendent pension bill and his letter in the
Guilford Miller case By the veto he saved
to the Treasury hundreds of millions OF dol
lars and checked policy which promised
not only to impose upon the country heavy
burden that could not have been got rid of
in half a century but also TO create an inn
mense number of paupers. Both political
parties deplored the extravaganza in pen
sion legislation, but neither had the cour-
age to oppose it. The fear of losing
the soldier vote forced them into
doing what they knew to be
wrong. The President, however, did what
Congress had not the courage to do, and to
the surprise of the politicians the people APP
plauded his act. Other great pension bills
WILL of course, be introduced into Congress
because there are plenty of demagogues who
still hope to make capital out of pension leg
islation, but it is not probable that such bills
will ever again have such general support
as they once had. The Presidents firm and
wise course with regard to pension matters
has given sufficient courage to well-meaning
but timid Congressman to oppose them.
The Guilford Miller letter showed the
people that the President was on their side
in their fight against rich corporations and
giant monopolies. For many years appeals
had been made to Congress for relief from
the encroachments of the land grant rail
roads ON the public lands. The roads, with
out pretending to carry out their part of
their contracts with the government, held
on to their lands which their contracts called
for. They did more than that. They sue
ceeded in keeping out of market millions of
acres of lands to which they had no
right, but which they hoped to get
hold of in some way The rights of settlers
were ignored, and the appeals to Congress
of those who were evicted from their home
steads brought no response. An appeal to
the President, however, was heard. The
Guilford Miller letter made thousands of
hearts all over. the great West lighter and
was greeted with satisfaction by toilers
and home seekers IN other parts of the coun-
try. Mr. Powderly, the Grand Master
- oihllldu VI lue hIllBuIS Ol IdDOI, Sdll.
The President is in sympathy with the
people, as this splendid and bold letter shows
very plainly We shall to man support
any administration which enters earnestly
and boldly upon land reform, and stand by
it until the last gun is fired"
And yet, Mr.. Henry Watterson, who
figures as a Democratic leader, has little to
say in praise of the President. In the Ken
lucky State Democratic Convention the
other day he made speech which attracted
some attention. His whole talk, however,
was about ''the boys in the trenches" The
dependent pension bill veto and the Guilford
Miller letter do not appear to have inn
pressed him. And who are Mr. Wattersons
"boys in the trenches" Why few sore
head politicians who are bowling for the
| spoils of office! What has become of Mr..
| Watterson's star-eyed goddess of reform!
Has she been driven into retirement by his
advocacy Of the claims of the "boys in the
| trenchesT